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Scott R. Wagner is a contributor to the York County Court of Common Pleas campaign of Michael Flannelly.

By ED MAHON Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
04/24/2013 08:27:20 AM EDT

York, PA -

A post critical of York County judicial candidate Todd Platts was removed from Scott R. Wagner's website this week, after Platts challenged the accuracy of many of the statements.

Reached by phone early Tuesday afternoon, Wagner said he was not available for comment.

Later, Wagner said in a statement that he removed the post and sent a mass follow-up email to people "with the clarification that Mr. Platts asked me to make," out of respect for Platts and Michael Flannelly, the two candidates for a seat on the York County Court of Common Pleas.

"This campaign is between the two of them. The focus should be on who the better qualified candidate is," Wagner said. "I will not be commenting on this issue in the future."

Last time: The dispute dates back to earlier this month, when Wagner's website and a mass email from him criticized Platts' pay and pension from his time as a state lawmaker and U.S. congressman.

Platts challenged the accuracy of many of Wagner's statements.

And during a York Daily Record/Sunday News editorial board meeting Friday afternoon, he criticized Flannelly for not doing anything about Wagner's statements.

Wagner also said the lump sum payment of $25,850.70 that Platts received when he retired from the state was his own contributions he made, plus interest, to his state pension; the about $4,600 annual state pension that Platts receives is based off 10 years of service, not eight; and that Platts is not currently receiving his federal pension.

In the message, Wagner also criticized Platts, saying he wasn't a fiscal conservative in Congress and that he's not qualified to be judge.

Platts said he originally sent a private letter to Wagner and Flannelly, saying the information was incorrect. He sent a follow-up letter with documents this week, he said.

He said Wagner's entitled to his opinions "as long as their factual and truthful."